Illinois Ranks No. 1 in Midwest for Workforce Development, Climbs to No. 3 Nationally (Chicago, IL) – Illinois has been ranked first in the Midwest and third in the nation for workforce development, according to new 2026 rankings released by Site Selection Magazine, state officials announced this week.
The ranking marks an improvement for Illinois, which placed second in the region and fourth nationally in the previous year. Site Selection Magazine, a leading publication covering economic development, cited the state’s expanding talent pipeline, workforce training initiatives and employment services as key factors behind the rise.
Gov. JB Pritzker said the recognition reflects the state’s efforts to better align education and training programs with the needs of employers.
The workforce development rankings are based on an updated index that measures factors such as educational credentials, technical skills, productivity and return on investment for both workers and employers. The analysis draws on data from several organizations, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, SkillsUSA, the Lumina Foundation, ACT and Strada.
State economic officials said the ranking comes as Illinois continues to post strong economic indicators. Kristin Richards, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, pointed to record levels of investment and ongoing collaboration between state agencies and industry partners as signs of growing momentum.
In addition to the statewide recognition, Site Selection Magazine ranked the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area fourth in its 2026 North American Tech Hub Index, up from sixth in 2025. The ranking evaluates technology infrastructure, talent availability and corporate investment in sectors such as software development, data centers and telecommunications.
Illinois Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Christy George highlighted the state’s focus on investing in people through apprenticeships, advanced manufacturing programs and higher education partnerships. She also pointed to recent economic development projects as examples of collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Business Facilities magazine recently recognized DCEO and Team Illinois — a partnership among the governor’s office, DCEO, the Illinois EDC and other stakeholders — with a 2025 Impact Award for efforts that helped bring Cronus Chemicals to Tuscola, a project credited with strengthening the local economy and creating jobs.
State officials said Illinois’ fiscal improvements, including multiple credit rating upgrades since 2021 and billions of dollars in incentivized investments in 2025, have helped support growth in emerging industries such as clean energy, electric vehicle manufacturing, quantum technology and advanced agriculture.
Workforce development efforts have included expanded apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across the state. Illinois now has more than 450 registered apprenticeship programs serving nearly 22,000 apprentices. In recent years, the state has also increased funding for initiatives aimed at expanding access to career training, particularly for historically underrepresented populations.
Officials said those investments are intended to build a sustainable, inclusive workforce capable of meeting the demands of Illinois’ evolving economy.
Illinois Ranks No. 1 in Midwest for Workforce Development, Climbs to No. 3 Nationally
